Toy gun



(Nb Model.)

- J.L.J0YGE.

- TOY GUN.

No'. 299,796. Patent-ed June 3, 1884.

NA PETERS. Fhnto-Lnhngmpmr, washington. D. c

` UNITED STATES PATENT OEECE.

JOsEPHl L. JOYCE, OE NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

TOY GUN..

SPECIFICATION forming part of LttersPatent No. 299,796, dated June 3, 1884. Application med Aprn 11, i884. (No model.)

To all whom t con/cern:

Be it. known that I, JOSEPH L. JOYCE, of

New Haven, in the county of New Haven andK State of Connecticut,- have invented a new Improvement in Toy Guns; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, -and represent, in-

Figure l, a sectional side View; Fig. 2, a section through the two tubes forward of the ends of the springs; Fi g, 3, a transverse section forward of the sp rings, showing the collar or follower II I, Fig. 4, the charging-rod; Fig. 5, a side View, and Fig. 6 a longitudinal section,

` of the bullet or projectile.

This invention relates to an improvement in that classy of toy guns in which a helical spring is arranged within the barrel,to be compressed from the muzzle to a point where itis caught bythe trigger; then the ball, arrow,or other device dropped into the barrel against the spring, and so that when the spring is released it will propel such device with force from the barrel, the object of the invention being to make a more powerful gun than the usual spring arrangement, Vand whereby a leaden ball may be propelled with sufficient force for short-range target practice; andthe invention consists in two tubes arranged the one within the other, and so as to leave a space between the inner and the outer, aspring arranged within the said space, and the second spring within the inner tube, the two coupled so 'as to be compressed by a single instrument introduced at the muzzle; also, in a spindle arranged longitudinally and centrally in the inner tube,to serve as a guide upon which atubular bullet may ride inward to its position against the contracted spring, and also be thereby guided in its movement from the barrel under the reaction of the spring and as more fully hereinafter described.

rIhe general outline of the arm is that of a common single-barrel muzzle-loading gun. The barrel consists of an outer tube, A, and the inner tube, B, arranged concentrically one 5o within the other, the two tubes fixed at the breech end, preferably the inner tube made fast to the breech-pin G, and the breech-pin screwed into the outer tube,in the usual manner. Between the two tubes is aspace, D.' The inner tube is to serve as the barrel proper. In the inner tube a helical spring, E, is arranged, one end secured to the breech-pin. In the space D is a second helical spring, F, of substantially the same length as that of the inner spring. Longitudinally in the inner tube is a slot, a. The outer end of the principal spring F is turned inward through the slot a, as atb, Fig. 2, and the end then bent into substantially ring shape, as at d, and so as to bear upon the end of the springE in the inner tube, and as seen in Fig. 2, and so that an instrument introduced at the muzzle will bear upon the ringshaped termination of the principal spring, compress that, and also comi press the inner spring. Longitudinally and centrally through the inner tube is a spindle, e. This spindle is of less diameter than the internal diameter ofthe spring E, and extends through that spring to the breech-pin, where it is made fast, as seen in Fig. l. The spring E therefore stands in the space between -the spindle e and its surrounding tube B. At the muzzle of the gun a plug, G, is introduced to close the space between the two tubes, and so as to support the outer ends of the tubes in their proper concentric relation to each other, the internal diameter of the plug G corresponding substantially to the internal diameter'of the inner tube. Onto the ends of the tubes I preferably place a collar, H I, the one part H being of ring shape, to rest upon the principal spring F, the other part I, also of ring shape, to rest upon the inner spring, the two connected, as at f, through the slot a in the inner tube, as seen in Fig. 3. At the proper position in the stock a latch, g, is arranged, which, when the springs are depressed, will catch upon the collar H I, or upon the ends of theA spring, if there be no collar present, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 1, and when so caught the springs are in the contracted position. From this latch a system'of levers, h t', extends to the trigger l, so that a pull upon the trigger, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 1, will depress the latch and draw it from its position of engagement with the spring, and when so released the springs fly forward with great force. 'Io compress the springs I employ a tubular rod, L, Fig. 4, the

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outer diameter of the tube being such that it l This is an open spring, and as the principal will enter the inner tube, and the internal diameter slightly larger than the spindle, so as to pass freely over it, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. l. Therefore, to compress the springs, introduce the tubular rod L, as seen in broken lines, Fig. l, and force it inward, compressing the springs until they engage the latch g, as before described.

The projectile designed to be used in this gun is seen in Figs. 5 and 6. It is of common bullet form, as seen in Fig. 5, but made tubular, as seen in Fig. 6, the external diameter being slightlyless than that of the inner tube, Il, and the internaldiameter substantially that of the spindle E, but so as to move freely on the spindle. After the spring has been compressed thc bullet is placed upon the spindle and permitted to drop into the barrel until it reaches the ends of the spring. Then the arm is in condition for firing. The small diameter olv` the spindle permits the ball to move through the barrel in a direct line with much less frietion than it would do were it supported bythe tube only upon t-he outside of the bullet. The force of the bullet is therefore greater, and also more accurate, than it could be were the bullet permitted to ride on the inner surface of the barrel. The power of the combined springs is sufficient to throw the bullet a great distance. The arm is therefore peculiarly adapted to shortrange target practice.

A tubular arrow may be employed instead ofthe bullet, if preferred.

rIhe two springs may be used without the spindle with good results. I therefore do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to the employment of that spindle.

The collar H I so nearly closes lthe two tubes as to prevent liability of obstructions entering the barrel to interfere with the proper working of the springs. It also serves as a support for the spindle. to maintain it in its proper central position. This collar may be omitted, the turned-in end of the outside spring over the inner spring being sufflcient to combine the two springs to act as 011e.

The turning in of the end of the outer spring may be omitted when the collars are employed; yet I prefer to so turn in the inner end, as it makes the spindle a guide for the end of the principal spring.

As a cushion to break the force of the springs as they complete their forward or active movement, I arrange a short helical spring, I), in the space between the two tubes, and against the inner end ofthe plug G, as seen in Fig. l.

springs approach the muzzle their outer end strikes upon this spring I. It yielding somewhat, breaks the force of the blow of the springs as they arrive at their extreme forward position.

l. The combination of the two tubes A B, arranged the one within the other and fixed to the stock,the helical spring F between theinner and the outer tubes and the springE within t-he inner tube,the outer end of the two springs united through a slot in the inner tube, and mechanism, substantially such as described, to engage said springsin their compressed condition, said mechanism in connection with the trigger whereby the spring may be released, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a tubular barrel, a spindle longitudinally located in said barrel and fixed at the breech end, a helical spring within the barrel around the spindle, and mechanism, substantially such as described, to cngage said spring in its compressed condition, said mechanism in connection with the trigger whereby the spring may be released, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the outer tube, A, the inner tube, B, the spindle e, arrangedlongitudinally in the inner tube, fixed at the breech end, the springF between the outer and inner tube, and spring E in the inner tube around the spindle, with mechanism, substantially such as described, to hold said springs in their compressed condition, said mechanism in connection with the trigger whereby the springs may be released, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the outer tube, A, the inner tube, B, the spindle c, arrangedlongitudinally within the inner tube and fixed at the breech end, the spring F between the outer and inner tube, spring E within the inner tube, the double ring-shaped collar II I, and mechanism. substantially such as described, to hold saidsprings in their compressed condition and to release them therefrom, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of the outer tube, A, inner tube, I3, spring F between the outer and inner tube, and spring E within the inner tube,the plug G at the muzzle end between said two tubes, and the cushion-spring I), substantially as and for the purpose described.

JOS. L. JOYCE.

Vitiiesses:

Jos. GFARLE, J. H. SHUMwilY.

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